Dark Day|Neo'anar | New Anarlina

[Kender Bard]

Sunray was gazing at Dusk thoughtfully as she sat to his side in the audience hall. He wasn't infatuated with her, no, but he didn't mind making the occasional gesture of a good husband, and he thought she was very restful on the eyes, which was a thankful thing.

A messenger pushed his way through the crowd, irritably, holding a scroll in his hand tightly. "Message for the royal family!" he declared, earning scornful glares from those he had pushed past.

[Darastrix]

Dusk thought much the same of Sunray, though if she wasn't certain Twilight would object, she would gladly entertain the idea of sharing a more physical expression of love with him as well. She was fond of her husband, after all, and he was quite attractive, though not as handsome as his brother. She did hope he would approach Angel soon; she didn't want him to be lonely.

"Well, there's no need for him to be rude about it," Dusk murmured quietly to Sunray about the messenger, frowning faintly.

[Kender Bard]

"I hope it's worth the fuss," he complained quietly. To Dusk's side, Emerald's hand rested on her sword just in case, and sitting in his own seat placed back behind and aside from Sunray, Twilight leaned forward with interest.

The messenger made his way respectfully to the king and queen and knelt, holding out the scroll to them. Sunray accepted it and unrolled it, holding it to the side so Dusk could see as well.

In flowing script, it read: "To the Royal Family of Anarlina,

Congratulations on your recent wedding. We hope that the festivities were most enjoyable. Now that Priestess Snowflake has tasted her last of happiness, we formally request you hand her over to Morilanta and High Priestess Rajani immediately - failure will result in the slow and methodical deaths of everyone around you, whom you love. If you do not believe in the power of our threat, or the reach of Evil's grasp, look only to the man who brought you this message. It will be the last he ever gives."

Abruptly, the messenger gasped and clutched over his heart, giving an agonized groan as he fell forward, dead.

[Darastrix]

Dusk inhaled sharply as she read the letter, gripping the arm of her seat tightly. At the last line, she tore her gaze from the scroll to the messenger, letting out a soft cry as he fell. The new royal wanted to go to pieces then and there, but the hall was full of people and a panic was the last thing they needed.

"Carry him inside and fetch a healer!" Dusk heard herself say as she got to her feet.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight snatched the letter out of Sunray's hand, scanning it quickly while Sunray, keeping a cool head about him, ordered much the same that Dusk had and asked all petitioners in the hall to leave while the emergency was dealt with. Emerald immediately slipped into the crowd and began to scan for assassins. Twilight threw the letter to the floor, drew his sword, and took off full run for the church to make sure Snowflake was okay.

Sunray held one of Dusk's hands and tried to give her some reassurance. "Our healers will look after him. Twilight's going to Snowflake right now. I want you to go somewhere safe."

[Darastrix]

Where would be safe if they can do this? Dusk thought worriedly, glancing at the prone messenger.

"Be careful, Sunny," she breathed softly, kissing him lightly on the cheek before picking up her skirts and hurrying off to the quarters she ostensibly shared with Sunray.

[Kender Bard]

The messenger had been declared dead. Snowflake was safe and sound in the church, unaware of what had just transpired and considerably shaken by Twilight's attitude as he escorted her protectively back to the castle. Once it was clear that there were no assassins in the room or hiding in the castle as far as Emerald and her guards could tell, the family - the Moonwings included - got together to discuss things.

"We, of course, are not handing over Snowflake," Sunray began.

[Darastrix]

Midnight squeezed his wife's hand reassuringly. "I believe that's one point we can all agree on."

"Even if we could conceive of doing such a thing, what would stop them from carrying out their threat regardless? Or just bringing it up again with yet another demand, and then another?" Dusk asked, her face pale. "Giving in, no matter what they're asking, would be giving them free reign of Anarlina!"

Midnight reached out and took his sister's hand as well. "Easy, Dusk." He turned back to Sunray. "We need to figure out how they plan on doing this."

[Kender Bard]

Sunray rubbed his eyes a little. He'd been wondering the same thing.

"Anarlina shouldn't stand for this," Emerald said angrilly. "We need to strike them, hard and fast, and erradicate Morilanta once and for all!"

"If you amass an army, they'll just kill everyone they like while hiding in their walls," Twilight remarked bitterly. "I say I go over there, find out what they've got that can wield this sort of power, and kill whoever is in charge of it."

"Must we turn into murderers?" Snowflake pleaded weakly, leaning against Midnight's shoulder. "I don't want to kill anyone..."

"Well that's why you're not in charge of the army," Emerald retorted.

[Darastrix]

Dusk grew very quiet at Twilight's suggestion, wings trembling at the thought of her beloved sneaking into Morilanta.

"Destroying whatever they have would likely do better than just killing the one in charge of it," Midnight pointed out. "Either way, though, how would you get in? This isn't like the situation with Ekaitz. You went with Snow and Sunray when they met with Morilanta's leaders, and whatever or whoever this power is is probably kept very close to one or both of them. They know your face, they likely know your voice, and they most definitely know where your true loyalties lie."

[Kender Bard]

"Good!" Twilight snarled. "Then I can see the look on their faces when it's me sliding my sword down their throats!"

"Twilight!" Snowflake scolded, horrified at her brother's talk. "Please!"

"I don't think we can afford to send an army after that," Sunray murmured doubtfully. "But if we must, we will. We could ask Caelium for more favors if it comes to that. Twilight's suggestion holds appeal as well-" he ignored the look from Snow "- but it shouldn't be him that goes. It should be a trained and hired assassin."

Twilight seethed at that.

[Darastrix]

"I agree with Sunray," Midnight murmured. "The fact that they know who Twilight is means it would be all the more difficult for him to get close enough in the first place."

[Kender Bard]

"And if we must, we will tie you at the hand and foot to ensure you don't sneak off," Emerald warned, trying to make a little light of the situation. Twilight gave her an ugly glare. "Don't look at me like that, or I won't let you play general when we march on Morilanta."

"I haven't decided if that's what we'll do," Sunray warned Emerald, who tossed her head as if it didn't matter what he decided. He sighed heavily. "I will go to Maelstrom and speak with the Royals or Lord Gareth and Lord Flash about whether or not we can receive some aid for an assault. In a way, they did strike the first blow. But in the meanwhile, someone should set up an agreement with a trustworthy assassin to try and cut off the problem at the head, before we need to waste the lives of men."

"Trustworthy assassin," Emerald snorted quietly. "Oxymoron."

[Darastrix]

Midnight curled a wing around his wife and sighed. "We should tighten security at both the palace and the church as well. How much will be revealed to the public?"

[Kender Bard]

"Not too much," Sunray cautioned. "I think all of us should have an escort of at least two guards at any given time. Four for Snow, since she's the object they desire it would seem."

"I don't want shadowed by guards," Twilight complained. Emerald, too, looked disgruntled.